Happy Halloween in Bali
Trip Start
Aug 21, 2006
1
41
70
Trip End
Dec 18, 2006
Ubud,
Indonesia
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Nyoman and I drove all around Ubud and then down to the southern tip of the island via Kuta and Seminyak yesterday. We visited a place to buy furniture called Saraya but all I bought were a couple more wood carvings, then a silver place where I bought some stuff after hard bargaining : ) and an inexpensive touristy batik factory (50% off with guide, Nyoman got a sticker that we showed to the cashier at check out) and then an upscale batik factory (didn't buy anything but it was heavenly looking at all of the fine silks etc.) Next we went to thehindu temple called Bedugul(sp) which was surrounded by a river/lake and had a lovely garden with lots of flowers. Then we drove out to see some more rice paddies and have an unremarkable (food) lunch with remarkable views. Then we drove out to the beach and saw the 2nd royal temple called Toman Ayun (sp). It was so hot and humid here. The temple is on a cliff surrounded by water. The walk to the temple took us down a hill and through a local shopping area. Many tourists here so we took off to find some other more tranquil place.
Drove for about an hour or more, checked out the beach town of Kuta and the Balinese 'ground zero' where the bombs went off a few years ago.
01-Massage Paradise
There was also a memorial for all of the hundreds of people killed. The place seemed filled with tourists as I mentioned above, but Nyoman said that before, the number of tourists outnumbered the locals by quite a bit and this was obviously not the case now. Saw McD's and Starbucks...noticeable absent in Ubud....thankfully. As an aside though, Americans may complain about seeing these non-Balinese signs of america but some of the locals I have spoken to seem to enjoy them and are glad they are there...signs of progress, opportunity...of course when they can afford to eat there.The last place we went was an even more dramatic temple on a cliff called Tanah Lot where we saw a traditional Balinese dance and fire dance. We sat on bleachers overlooking the ocean and a beautiful sunset. Elaborate costumes and a chorus of men chanting throughout the performance.
We left around 8pm and drove to another beach area famous for it's fresh seafood dinners. Nyoman and I sat on the beach and shared a bbq'd red snapper. We were almost instantly joined by vendors selling stuff and by a cute very hungry black puppy who lapped up the peanuts we gave him although he turned up his nose to the rice and scampered off to find other willing dinner doners!
I asked Nyoman how meals usually work when he is leading a tour. He said that sometimes he eats with the clients but sometimes he is left to fend for himself. I enjoy sharing my meals with him because we have fun talking and comparing notes! Also, I couldn't imagine eating alone and then having Nyoman eating alone somewhere at the same time. That would be too wierd and unnecessarily formal.
During the meal a group of men came by and played a song. Then we talked a bit, I told them I was American then they broke out into a popular Doobie Brothers song in a Balinese accent and flavor. The cultural mixup continues!
